A woman who broke into her former rented home and stole the landlord’s mobile phone which he used for onsite CCTV has been convicted of burglary.

Lauren Tibbett had been evicted from the property in Middlesbrough after falling behind with her rent and trouble associated with the premises, a court heard.

The 34-year-old smashed her way into the property to retrieve some of her goods but stole the mobile phone instead.

Elisha Marsay, prosecuting, said Tibbett smashed a window to gain access to the property on Dalcross Court in Hemlington.

“The landlord told her that she could retrieve her property at a later date,” she said. “The complainant had fitted CCTV to the property after the conviction and it was operated through a mobile phone.

“She was outside the property; the complainant viewed the CCTV live from his mobile phone.

“The defendant was seen outside with a male; she approached the property and a short time later the connection failed.

“He attended the address and found a window had been smashed and the mobile phone had been taken.”

Miss Marsay said the mobile phone’s distinctive cover was recovered from Tibbett’s new home but the handset was never recovered.

In a victim impact statement, the landlord said: “This has been a time of both financial and emotional hardship.

“Ever since she took residence in the address, she has caused issues that are still ongoing. She failed to pay rent, the house was left damaged and in a disgusting state.

“The burglary was another hit, I thought I was rid of her when she was evicted but then she broke in and stole my property.”

Tibbett, of Durham Road, Stockton, was found guilty of burglary on September 8 last year following a trial at magistrates’ court.

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Michele Turner, mitigating, said her client maintained that she wasn’t aware of the eviction notice and only found it when she broke in and checked the mail.

Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Tibbett to a two-year-community order which included 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He said: “You now have a conviction for burglary, the fact you have been in custody for nearly a month is your own fault.

“I’m going to be taking a much more lenient course today and making you subject to a community order.”